Milk Smarter-Powered by the Sun
Our Mission
Our team is developing a solar-powered, portable milking machine that enhances efficiency, improves hygiene, and increases milk production, all while operating independently of the grid.
Our Innovation
Problem Statement
Smallholder dairy farmers face multiple challenges with traditional manual milking:
- Physical Strain: Milking by hand causes fatigue and musculoskeletal stress.
- Low Yield: Manual milking often results in incomplete extraction, reducing milk output.
- Labour-Intensive Process: The process is time-consuming and limits scalability.
- Hygiene Risks: Manual handling increases the risk of contamination, affecting milk quality and safety.
Solution Overview
The solar-powered portable milking machine is designed to improve efficiency, hygiene, and milk yield for smallholder farmers:
- Automated Milking: Uses a DC vacuum pump to extract milk from cows via four teat cups, ensuring consistent and complete milking.
- Safe Milk Transport: Milk is transported through hygienic tubing to a collection bucket using controlled negative pressure, minimizing contamination.
- Solar-Powered Operation: Independent of the grid, the machine is fully powered by solar energy, making it suitable for off-grid rural farms.
- Portable & User-Friendly: Lightweight and easy to operate, reducing labour strain while increasing milking speed and output.
Benefits and Impact
For Users (Farmers):
- Reduced Labour & Physical Strain: Automates milking, decreasing fatigue and time spent per cow.
- Increased Milk Yield: Ensures efficient and consistent milking, improving productivity and income.
- Improved Hygiene: Minimizes contamination risk, producing cleaner milk for consumption and sale.
- Off-Grid Operation: Solar-powered design allows use in rural or electricity-limited areas.
For Society & Environment:
- Green Energy Adoption: Solar operation reduces reliance on fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
- Support for Sustainable Development Goals: Contributes to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
- Economic Empowerment: Increases farm profitability, enabling smallholder farmers to scale operations sustainably.
Sustainable Development
No Poverty
Increases farmer income through higher milk yield and reduced labour costs.
Affordable and Clean Energy
Solar-powered operation provides off-grid, clean energy for dairy farming.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Improves labour efficiency, reduces physical strain, and supports sustainable economic activity in rural farming communities.